Wayne County Commissioner Kevin McNamara to join county executive race

Wayne County Commissioner Kevin McNamara will announce his candidacy for county executive tonight at the Wayne County Community College Downriver Campus in Taylor.

McNamara, 56, has served as a commissioner since 2006 and works part time as a community affairs representative for Detroit-based Inland Waters Pollution Control Inc., according to his spokesman, Bryan Peckinpaugh. His district represents Belleville, Wayne, Sumpter Township, Van Buren Township, Huron Township, Romulus and part of Westland.

He joins Westland Mayor William Wild in seeking a four-year term for the post currently occupied by Robert Ficano, who has not publicly said whether he will seek another four-year term. He was first elected as county executive in January 2003 after serving two decades as county sheriff.

Others weighing a run for county executive are former Detroit Mayor Dave Bing and state Rep. Phil Cavanagh, D-Redford Township.

Taylor Mayor Rick Sollars and county Commissioner Ray Basham are expected to attend the event, along with other elected officials and community leaders, according to a news release.

McNamara is the son of longtime Wayne County Executive Edward McNamara, who held the office 1987 to 2002. Ed McNamara died in 2006.

The event begins at 6 p.m. and McNamara is expected to make his announcement shortly after 7 p.m.

The downriver campus is located at 21000 Northline Road.

The primary election will be Aug. 5, and the general election will be Nov. 4.